The New Nation - Internet Edition

Entertainment Desk

The organising committee of the Beijing Olympic 2008 has nominated 300 artists from 80 countries across the world as 'Excellent Artists of the World.' One painting or art piece of 300 artists will be there, and each one will get an Olympic gold medal, representation of an Olympic torch and a certificate.

From Bangladesh artists Rafiqun Nabi and Farida Zaman have been nominated in the category. Both the artists are staying there.

The piece by Rafiqun Nabi is 'Draught' (Khana) and that of Farida Zaman is 'Sufia in Joy.' This trip has been organised through the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts. It is mentioned that Khalid Mahmud Mithu and Kanak Chanpa Chakma are also participating. Another Bangladeshi painter, Khurshid Alam Saleem is participating as an American.

Artist Farida Zaman who teaches painting at the Institute of Fine Arts, DU, says that it is a unique experience for her as China is a place where painters from 80 countries are participating.

Artist Farida Zaman said, in 1981, she represented Bangladesh on a programme and she imagines that there must have been enormous development since then.

"The traditional identity of the Chinese people is very strong, by every measure, in every sector of life and living. This is something she says she realised back in 1981," she said. Rafiqun Nabi, once a professor of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University and famed for his 'Tokai' cartoons, said, "The fact that we have been included by the Olympic Committee makes me feel and contented as this is a new experience. This is though I've been to other Far Eastern countries like Japan, Malaysia and Thailand."